Spiritual Directors

Choose a Director, Make an Appointment, then Register

SISTER MONIKA ELLIS, OSB

The deep listening that takes place during spiritual direction is the root of wisdom. And it is wisdom that deepens our experience of life and unravels its meaning. I stand in awe of the power of listening and I am humbly honored when someone comes to sit with me in what we call spiritual direction.

More than ten years ago the Community called me to be the new membership director. In that capacity I have listened to many women who were discerning their vocation to monastic life. I am a gifted discerner, intuitive listener and committed companion.

My wide and various interests include art of all kinds but most especially the fiber arts; music; poetry, particularly hymn texts; and birds. On a given day you might find me outside on our Sacred Path of Enchantment watching birds, up in our art studio practicing the recorder, or in my office with various community tasks. Benedictine spirituality is sort of a household spirituality. What needs to be done we do, finding meaning in the relationships of community, the Liturgy of the Hours, and in the work at hand. God is good and present everywhere. In this I rejoice. If you’d like to talk to me about spiritual direction, please contact me via email: sr.monika.osb@gmail.com

SISTER LAURA SWAN, OSB

I experience life as an integrated whole. Like a lovely Impressionist painting, a close examination of pieces and aspects may appear unrelated and disjointed, but standing back and gazing upon the canvas of life as a whole provides us with another perspective. I encourage seekers to live in a contemplative stance toward life, listening for the whispers and leading of the Holy Spirit, Breath of God. Life is a dance, and the Holy One yearns to lead; yet a leading that entices us to become ever more the person we were created to be. Learning to listen, truly and deeply listen, with Benedict’s ear of the heart, is important. Often a personal crisis, an important life decision that needs to be made, addiction issues (and wondering ‘where is God’ in the midst of this very real struggle), and midlife issues initially bring people into my life as a spiritual director. I am comfortable sitting together with people who struggle with their place and call within institutional Church.

I have a background in the Charismatic Renewal, ecumenism, as a Benedictine Associate and Oblate. I made monastic profession in 1993, when I also began my retreat and spiritual direction ministry. I am a writer and published author, with a particular interest in Benedictine and women’s spirituality. I have a Masters in Christian Ministry and Renewal, a Masters in Theological Studies, and a Post Master Certificate in Spiritual Direction. You may contact me via email at lauraswanosb@gmail.com or call me at 360-438-1771.

SISTER JULIAN CLEARY, OSB

Life is about loving. Isn’t it? How do you love God? Love another? Do you want to look at that more carefully?

Spiritual Direction is about sharing the heart and soul’s desire to love. Along the way to love in our lives, we encounter difficult relationships with family and friends, with institutions and organizations and workplaces, even with our own self. Life can get complex, confusing, discouraging, and stressful.

I am a fairly new Spiritual Director since 2021. And I bring some ‘old’ gifts with me to Direction–gifts I have developed through my professional life. As a nurse practitioner, I began to learn about the human body and suffering and compassion. As an attorney I learned about listening carefully and deeply and about asking questions if needed. Living monastic life, I am learning about prayer and contemplation, and learning again about having a loving relationship with God and others.

If you are reading this, know that not only is your heart and soul seeking God (Love), but that God is pursuing you–a most unbelievable and astonishing gift waiting for you!

If you would like to connect about this pursuit by God, this journey of love, this sacred process of sharing your heart and soul called Spiritual Direction, you may reach me by email at julianclearyosb@gmail.com or via telephone at 360.438.2595. Meanwhile, know and trust that God loves you so very much.

SISTER ANNA-CAMILLE WOODEN, OSB

An offering of presence, listening, and companionship are, for me, the heart of spiritual direction. It is a great privilege to accompany people as they walk their spiritual path, seeking to discern the spirit’s movement in their lives. I believe I do so with respect and empathy. While my spiritual direction credentials are new, being a listener is not. I was an elementary school teacher for 40 years and an oblate in the St. Placid community for 8 years before starting the path to religious life. That definitely makes me a “late” vocation, which has given me a particular empathy for those who are “beginning again” or feeling called to a new direction in their life.

A longtime sponsor in a 12-step program and a longstanding student of the Enneagram, I am also a practitioner and commissioned teacher of Centering Prayer and serve on the Leadership team of Contemplative Outreach Northwest.

At the monastery, I receive great joy in being the Oblate Community co-director, along with Sr. Raphaela Cady, as well as working in archives and helping keep the bird feeders full. I also regularly help in presenting programs at the Spirituality Center.

You may contact me at 360.438.1771 or email camillewooden5@gmail.com

SISTER PAZ VITAL, OSB

Direccion Espiritual es un encuentro con lo Sagrado, con lo Divino, donde La Divinidad nos guia y dirige. Su director espiritual mantiene un espacio sagrado donde este encuentron sucede. Es un honor y un placer para mi acompanar a las personas en este Viaje Espiritual. Contactame por correo electronico pvital@stplacid.org

Spiritual Direction is a sacred encounter with the Holy, where the Divine guides and directs us. Your spiritual director holds a sacred space for this to happen.

I believe that God spoke to us in the past and continues speaking to us today–through our dreams, nature, art, even through people or events we may not like. God talks to us in many diverse ways and forms. Let us listen to the voice of God.

To be your companion in this sacred journey, I prepared by obtaining a Master’s in Theology and Ministry, a bachelor’s in Psychology, and I also have some Jungian training. My most recent preparation for doing spiritual direction was in Listening with the Spirit, the spiritual direction certificate program at St. Placid Priory.

In addition, I have experience living and worshiping in an ecumenical environment. God has many names and forms, and I am comfortable with diversity. Moreover, I have chaplaincy (Clinical Pastoral Education) experience too.

For me, it would be an honor and delight to accompany you on your Spiritual Journey. You may contact me (Spanish or English) via email at paz.vital@gmail.com

SISTER LUCY WYNKOOP, OSB

Sr. Lucy has been a Benedictine spiritual director since 1986. Her directees speak of how she helps illuminate what the Spirit is saying to them through her listening and her evocative questions. She understands and has a grasp of their life experiences. They appreciate how spiritual direction helps them share what is happening in their lives. She comes to spiritual direction with a contemplative presence and looks forward to working with her directees. When they are in pain or working through an issue, she helps them be compassionate with themselves and others. Currently, Sr. Lucy works with a limited number of directees. In the past, she prepared people to be spiritual directors in a formation program called “Listening with the Spirit,” and joined Dr. Mary Pandiani of Selah in leading a continuing education program for spiritual directors called “In-Spirit.”

SISTER SONJA WEBER, OSB

Ever a curious seeker, drawn to philosophical, religious and psychological investigation, I was born and raised in Germany, in a fundamentalist evangelical context. In my youth, I began to question this heritage and discovered deeper resonance with concepts and practices from eastern Asia. In later life, I became Catholic via a Middle Eastern Catholic Church and I eventually entered a Byzantine monastery before coming to St. Placid Priory. Presently I’m residing at non-denominational Holy Hills Hermitage in Kentucky.

Convinced that nothing can be outside God, and acutely aware of Holy Presence everywhere in all things, I am inclined to interfaith opportunities and natural expressions that raise this awareness and cultivate these innate connections.

I greatly appreciate the privilege of journeying with companions as they ponder, wonder and struggle for a deeper sense of connection. I gladly welcome and accompany seekers, no matter the faith tradition, religious background, or personal situation.

Contact me directly at hermitage.sonja@gmail.com